How to Make Forging Tongs

by AlexTheGreat

21K8430

Intro: How to Make Forging Tongs

for forging with your forge

https://www.instructables.com/id/EOY2LRP1USEPZY2TT7/?ALLSTEPS

STEP 1: Supplies

for this you will need;

1/4 in steel sheet metal
three washers
bolt
lock nut (or a regular)

tools;

arc welder
plasma torch
argon
compressor
welding protection
wrench
grinder
sharpie

STEP 2: Make the Tongs

draw the shape of one side of tongs on the metal
draw it again

cut it out with the plasma torch

(due to the fact I don't want to kill my camera, there are no pictures of welding or cutting)

grind down the sharp edges

drill holes at the pivot points

put a washer between the tongs and on both sides and screw the nut on

STEP 3: Make the Grips

also cut out two small rectangles

use the grinder to put grooves in them

weld them on the tongs (make sure that when the tongs are closed the grips are flat against each other)

30 Comments

sonny davis 13 years ago

what do you do when you cant afford a plasma tourch

jadronx 12 years ago

use 1/4" flat stock and heat it in your forge to bend it the correct way

bcavaciuti 10 years ago

or cut out with the angle grinder

jtobako 17 years ago

why not use the forge to make them? you know, bending metal with heat? oh, thats right, the only thing a forge is for is "i'm gonna make a sword" BTW, rivets are the way to go. the plastic 'lock' on a locknut will burn out.

An Villain 13 years ago

Because you get halfway through with the pieces in the coals before realizing "oh S*** I don't have any tongs!"

jtobako 13 years ago

Water-pump (or adjustable) pliers.

Or the blacksmith's secret weapon-vice-grips : )

In the mean time, your iron has burned away as you try to start up the plasma welder...

jadronx 12 years ago

lol of course, and the vice-grips are the way to go! that is what I used when I made my tongs.

An Villain 13 years ago

I suppose, and most unfortunately that last line is true.

AlexTheGreat 17 years ago

because the forge sucks and i can't make anything on it.

!!!!!!! 13 years ago

Have you tried a brake drum forge?
you can make a simple one out of on old car wheel and some rebar...

corey11 13 years ago

Well, a smith i know put together an awesome website to help people build their own propane forge, and this one is pretty efficient. Its called the Ammo Can Forge. I modified it so its coal and its pretty eficient, not as good as it could be though. But overall, no cmplaints.

http://www.forgemonkeys.com/

Unkat 17 years ago

Alex, If you're having trouble getting a home made forge to work, I suggest purchasing one. I spent almost a year fiddling around with pipes and insulation before I just got fed up. As it turns out, it takes a huge amount of skill and precision to make a forge that will burn half as efficiently as the ones that can be found at places like www.centaurforge.com. In the meantime, it would be good if you could modify the title of this instructable or remove it entirely, since it is misleading and discouraging to beginning metalworkers. Blacksmithing is something to take pride in, not to work around. And if you need additional help, I suggest browsing around Anvilfire.com, which has tutorial's on many small projects and links to other reliable websites. Best wishes, ~U

thoraxe 15 years ago

dude, you spent all that money on a forge? what kind of forge gas or coal?

Unkat 15 years ago

A propane, dual burner forge. At this point the largest diameter of stock I've used in it is 3/4" mild steel, but it can handle much larger. I don't know if my arm can though.

thoraxe 15 years ago

how much did u pay?

Unkat 15 years ago

$750 for the forge, plus I think $30 or $40 in shipping. http://www.centaurforge.com/prodinfo.asp?number=FORGEB

My anvil came from from Thak.ca, which was good for me because I'm in canada, so the shipping ended up being only about $50 for 110 kg anvil.

I would recommend finding a dealer who is at least local to your country, to save on shipping. And also if they are close enough that you can pay them a visit and check out their products before you buy, that is a very good idea.

Also, never buy an anvil from china. Even a little jewelry one. I've heard horror stories about chinese made anvils cracking open, revealing sand or lead inside...

Bright Shadow 15 years ago

Sledge hammers work good for a light anvil...

Kaiven 14 years ago

THAT IS GENIUS! I never thought about that! I have been looking for an anvil around the house for ever!

thoraxe 15 years ago

dang. for that much, i'd rather just buy whatever i need forged. I would never buy a forge for that much. but alot of people think they need fancy stuff to blacksmith with. I get along great with my concrete charcoal forge and my anvil made from a cast iron weight. Of course, propane forges are wonders to forge with, easy to light, no cleanup, and real anvils are great also, with hardy holes and horns and the rebound that comes with steel. To make things short, i still dont understand why people would buy something for that much, especially when they are a beginner. But you have it, and thats great, it will last you for years and years.
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